General Surgery

Overview

The Section of General Surgery at Westchester Medical Center is comprised of outstanding technical surgeons committed to providing high-quality patient care and educating residents, medical students and the community. Through scholarly pursuits and research, our active surgical faculty stays at the forefront of modern surgical medicine.

Our general surgery team adheres to the philosophy that surgeons trained to perform highly specialized complex procedures in all areas of the body are the best prepared to manage patients' complex preoperative and postoperative problems. This is also the philosophy by which we train our medical residents.

General Surgery Areas of Expertise

Patients with advanced stages of diseases are referred to the Section of General Surgery because of the extensive resources available at Westchester Medical Center. Our commitment to preoperative assessment and optimization of the high-risk patient undergoing non-cardiac surgery makes us the hospital of choice for many referring physicians, as does our clinical expertise in other surgical procedures for patients with chronic pulmonary, cardiac, renal and hepatic failure.

Our general surgery specialty areas include:

Pancreaticobiliary surgery

Gastrointestinal surgery

Colo-rectal surgery

Oncologic surgery

Thoracic surgery

Endocrine surgery

General Surgery Services

The Section of General Surgery at Westchester Medical Center includes general surgeons who perform routine colon and rectal procedures and treat complications of inflammatory bowel disease as well as unusual gastrointestinal malignancies which require ileo anal pouches or sphincter-sparing resections.

Our surgeons include specialists in the surgical management of diseases of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, endocrine, pancreas and neuroendocrine tumors of the gastrointestinal tract and surgery for morbid obesity. We utilize minimally invasive laparoscopic approaches in many of these surgeries and provide advanced procedures such as:

Adrenalectomy
Adrenalectomy is the surgical removal of one or both adrenal glands, usually due to the presence of tumors.

Colectomy
A common procedure in the treatment of colon cancer or diseases of the large intestine, this surgical treatment consists of resectioning (removing) of a portion of the large intestine, or colon.

Inguinal herniorrhaphy
Used to treat hernia, this laparoscopic procedure involves four small incisions through which a surgeon repairs the hernia, leaving very little scarring.

Surgery FAQs

How should I prepare for my surgery?

Surgeries are usually planned at least a few days in advance, and your doctor's office will let you know ahead of time how to prepare for your surgery. Typically, this includes instructions on where to go, any restrictions on food or drink, a list of anything you need to bring, and any other important information that you need, such as instructions on any pre-admission testing you may need to complete.

How far ahead of time do I need to arrive for my surgery?

In most cases, you need to arrive several hours in advance to be prepped for surgery. This includes completing any remaining paperwork, administering any pre-surgery medications, and preparing IVs. Your doctor's office will provide you with detailed information about where to go and what to expect.

Will I have to stay overnight after my surgery?

Barring any unexpected changes in your condition, you should know prior to surgery if you will need to stay overnight. If your surgery is an out-patient procedure, you will remain in recovery after your surgery until your doctor determines you can go home. Your time in recovery depends on the type of surgery you had and your overall response to the surgery and any medications you have been administered.